By rosebell
Following breakthrough of Tunnel T3 between Buguda and Banigochha in Nayagarh district, the Khurda Road-Balangir New Rail Line Project in Odisha, India has marked progress.
As confirmed by the East Coast Railway, this 2.6km-long tunnel was dug using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), which employs advanced excavation techniques.
As the second-longest tunnel in the 301km rail line and the longest in Nayagarh district, this breakthrough is a key development in the project.
Providing better connectivity between the eastern and western regions of Odisha, this tunnel features a 2-degree curve.
Commented on the landmark, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “The breakthrough in the 2.6 km-long Tunnel T3 between Buguda and Banigochha stations on the Khurda-Balangir section in Odisha is a testimony to the progress of this vital project.”
Seven tunnels within a 75km stretch between Daspalla and Purunakatak and the already completed T7, which measures 4.85km, are the contents of this rail project.
The Eastern Ghats have posed challenges during the construction phase, but modern excavation methods have supported ongoing work.
Involving 105.8km from Khurda Road to Daspalla and 109km from Balangir to Purunakatak, 215km of the rail line have been completed until now.
The construction process on the remaining sections, including the stretch between Purunakatak and Adhenigarh, is undergoing and it is expected to conclude soon.
Streamlining travel between Bhubaneswar and Balangir and improving overall transportation in the area, will be the advantages of the Khurda Road-Balangir rail line after completion.
In order to boosting connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir, the Sonamarg tunnel, also known as the Z-Morh tunnel, was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week.
The tunnel includes a 6.4km main passage, along with an egress tunnel and approach roads, forming part of a two-lane bi-directional road in Ganderbal district.
The Sonamarg tunnel, which is located at an altitude of around 8,650ft, facilitates all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg, extending to Leh.
